Waist High Raised Bed Gardening

AARP REPORTS DECLINE IN GARDENING

I read something interesting in the Spring 2006 edition of the AARP Bulletin: Sales at nurseries and home centers have declined since 2003. What's going on? Is gardening no longer one of America's favorite hobbies?

Some experts report that baby boomers -- the first wave turned 60 in 2006 -- just can't bend or kneel like they used to. And that's why they've given it up.

That's just what happened to me. Now, I'm not 60 -- yet -- but the injuries from 2 car accidents ... the last one was a flip over in a median strip ... have left me with some nasty arthritis in my back and neck.

It started to feel like my favorite pastime was more like training for a triathlon than relaxation and fun. Who needs that?

If I could show you a way to walk out onto your deck, patio, balcony, or into your yard and do some weeding, watering, planting and harvesting -- all without bending or kneeling -- would you be interested?

GardenRack, designed to protect your back and knees, is every garden lover's dream.

How?

The height can be adjusted to your own custom fit.That's right! You can tailor GardenRack's dimensions to fit any height needed. In the downloadable plans, the planting surface is designed to be waist high.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER GARDEN-RACK TODAY!

Making a great organic fertilizer is no farther than your kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. To make compost tea you'll need: an old pair of pantyhose, a kitty litter bucket and some compost.

How is it made, you ask? Compost tea is made like any other tea and that's where the pantyhose comes in.

Compost is made by collecting kitchen scraps and other garden clippings, putting them in a compost container and letting heat and water break the material down into a highly nutritious form.

How do you create compost from kitchen scraps for a great organic garden? By composting kitchen scraps in a compost bucket.

First, let me warn you that you do not want to use any meat or fat in your compost bucket.

And this system works most frugally if you have a cat. But don't worry. If you don't have a cat I know you know someone who does and they can always use the kitty litter.

I have two 14 year-old gray tabbies at home. I like using kitty litter that comes in a bucket with a secure lid. Tidy Cat makes a nice one.

You can do whatever you want with the kitty litter: you can use it yourself in your own kitty box, put it in a re-sealable bag and store it in the trunk of your car for an icy day, or you can give it away to a friend who has a kitty. Any one of them will do. You just want the bucket.

Rinse your new composting bucket out really well with soap and water and dry it.
Now you're ready to start composting. Whenever you have leftovers that aren't meat or fat, throw them in the compost bucket.

This can be ends of bread, vegetable peels, eggshells or left over pasta. And, because the compost bucket that you've selected has a secure lid, you shouldn't smell any odor coming from it.

Now, there are lots of companies out there that will be happy to sell you a very expensive, very cute kitchen compost bucket. Don't buy it.
The kitty litter bucket works much better and it's bigger so it will hold more.

And you're getting an FGG (Frugal Garden Guru) two-fer: the kitty litter can be used by your favorite feline and you get a durable compost bucket.

Collect compost for as long as you want. I usually don't empty my compost bucket for a few weeks. Just make sure it isn't too heavy for you to lift.

The next step on your way to gardening organically is a compost pile.

Compost piles come in all shapes and sizes and, yes, you can buy some very expensive containers, too. One of the best compost piles I ever had was in that first garden in New Jersey when all I did was take my compost and dump it in the dirt.
I turned it over every time I had a new load of kitchen waste and I grew a great organic garden in that space.

I'll admit to you, though, composting and this method of composting is really only good if you have the space to have a compost pile. This will not work if you live in an apartment.

But I have a solution to not having a compost pile.

What is it?

Move! No, just kidding.

You can buy some commercially prepared compost (not the most frugal thing, I'll admit) or you can ask one of your gardening buddies if they have a compost pile you can contribute to in exchange for some compost.

If you have your own compost pile, you can choose to enclose it with any number of things: chicken wire, hay bales, or you can build a wooden compost container.
Personally, I use a compost tumbler and this allows me to rotate the compost without having to dig through it with a fork in a big pile. It also allows heat to build up in the container, which is a critical element in breaking down the kitchen scraps and garden refuse into a beautiful, black soil-like consistency. These tumblers are available from places like Gardener's Supply Company.

All right. We've collected scraps for compost, we've taken them in our compost bucket to the compost pile, and now we have fresh compost (it takes about two weeks in the sun for compost to appear). Here's where the pantyhose come in.
It's best if they don't have any runs in either leg but, certainly, if you have a hole in one of them you can tie it off just above the hole and then cut off the end you don't need.

Put a good amount of compost in one leg of the old pantyhose making sure that you have knotted it at the lower end so that it doesn't fall out onto the ground.
Don't laugh -- I did that once. I don't know what I was thinking, I may have even been talking to a gardening friend at the time, but I was happily loading compost into my pantyhose leg to find that it had deposited itself back on the ground. Fortunately, it was in an area of the garden that needed a bit of compost anyway.

Once you have a leg-full, close up the top end, take your compost bucket from the kitchen, rinse it out, and fill it with water. Place your leg full of compost in the water and let it steep. For the best effect, do this in full sun.

Let the compost bucket sit there for two to three days. In the end, you'll have some water that looks like strong tea. And you'll be ready for an organic garden. Not only does the tea provide nutrients to the plants, it makes them strong enough to resist many pests and diseases.

Pour your compost tea into a watering can and water all of your plants and vegetables with it. Now you're growing organically!

Compost is also good for organic gardens in the non-tea form as an additive to your garden soil. Whenever I'm planting a new container or creating a new raised bed, I make sure to mix in some compost for great nutrients and vitamins.

If you've never gardened before but would love to experiment on a small scale -- or you've recently downsized from a house to a condo, townhouse, or apartment -- GardenRack is ideal.

Have you always admired one of those farm-like vegetable gardens, gazing down row after row of corn, beans, squash and cucumbers? Does the thought of a juicy sweet tomato sandwich on a hot summer's day ... a thick slab of a red, vine-ripened beefsteak seasoned with mayo, salt and pepper (catch the juice before it drips off your chin!) ... make you yearn to buy a farm just so you can grow your own tomatoes?

Or can you imagine being able to have a big cutting garden, so you can once again enjoy gorgeous bouquets of flowers like you did in your larger house?

GardenRack is the answer. If you've got 15 square feet -- about the size of a standard washer and dryer sitting side by side -- you can have a gorgeous garden. No matter where you live!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER GARDEN-RACK TODAY!

And if your "garden" is more like a concrete jungle GardenRack is perfect for you, too. GardenRack performs double duty -- it's a beautiful addition to your landscape and an efficient and convenient place to grow flowers, veggies, and herbs without changing a thing in your yard.

Do you have a balcony or rooftop? GardenRack is the ideal fit for small spaces.

And GardenRack isn't just for outside growing! Set it up in a spare room under lights to grow all year round. Imagine serving fresh lettuce from your garden in a salad on Valentine's Day -- in Vermont. No greenhouse required!

If you're like I was, you may be resisting something you have to put together. But I had a great no bend, no kneel raised bed garden in an afternoon and was planting that evening. I have a friend who has even put locking wheels on hers so she can move it around and is already building her second GardenRack!

GardenRack comes with easy-to-follow plans and instructions. And don't worry -- even if you're all thumbs, you won't have a problem putting it together; that's how simple it is. All you need are easy-to-find materials like these ...

* Pressure treated lumber for life-long gardening
* Galvanized deck screws and joist hangers
* 2 plastic two foot by three foot tubs (normally used for mixing cement)

... all available at local home centers, lumberyards or builder's supply stores for about $60 altogether. That's less than the price of planting a tree in your yard.

Plus, you won't need any sophisticated power tools or the skills to read complex plans. I had an architect design the plans to make them easy to read and follow.

The combination of pressure treated lumber and plastic tubs is what gives GardenRack its durability. It's steady and nearly indestructible. You can leave it outdoors all year long, in all kinds of weather and not have to worry about damage.

You'll have your garden for years ... and harvests ... to come. All without bending or kneeling.Spend a few hours this afternoon and have a garden growing tomorrow.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER GARDENRACK TODAY!

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Hang out in the garden with me. When you subscribe to The Frugal Gardener, you'll get 2 FREE reports and an 8-week mini course on growing and cooking with herbs.

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Gardening happens to be a favorite hobby of millions of people. There is something calming about working amidst the dirt and the plants that certain people enjoy. Unfortunately, there are times when arthritis can prevent even the most avid of gardeners from spending too much time in the dirt. However, with the invention of ergonomic garden hand tools, even those who suffer from arthritis can once again enjoy their favorite past time without aggravating their arthritis. This is because these type of tools are designed to fit comfortably in one's hand, and divert the pressure to the forearm, instead of the hand or wrist.

Below is a list of the top three ergonomic garden hand tools that any gardener suffering from arthritis would find of great use. These tools would be a great gift for any gardener you know that would benefit from the use of ergonomically designed tools.

Ergonomic Trowel -- With a handle designed for comfort, this type of trowel will focus the workload on the forearm instead of the wrist. No more pain and discomfort to stop the avid gardener from working with a trowel.

Ergonomic Garden Scoop -- The ergonomically designed handle means less stress on the wrists. This is the perfect tool for weeding enthusiasts. It is as least as effective as traditional garden scoops, yet it is designed with the arthritis sufferer in mind.

Ergonomic Wedge -- This ergonomic planting tool with a specially designed knob makes it super easy to replant plants that are in containers. All it takes is placing one's hand on the knob and a slight side to side rocking motion and the plants will be in the ground in no time.

The use of ergonomic garden hand tools can greatly improve a gardener's experience when working. There is no need to allow the pain of arthritis to prevent a person from doing something they truly enjoy.

Putting together a gift set of ergonomic garden hand tools is a thoughtful way to let your favorite gardener know that you care. You can find these type of tools online in, and perhaps even in your local retail store that sells gardening tools.